The Emerald Coast is home to several major military installations that have played vital roles in the nation’s defense for decades.
Hurlburt Field, located near Fort Walton Beach, serves as the headquarters of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The installation is home to the 1st Special Operations Wing (1st SOW), a unit with a long and distinguished history. Originally designated as Auxiliary Field No. 9, Hurlburt was one of several pilot and gunnery training fields built within the expansive Eglin Air Force Base complex during the 1940s.
The wing was redesignated as the 16th Special Operations Wing in 1993 as part of an Air Force-wide renumbering initiative, then returned to its historic designation as the 1st Special Operations Wing in 2006. Today, the wing continues its mission of providing rapid-response special operations capabilities around the globe while training aircrews and supporting allied forces. Hurlburt Field proudly embraces its motto: “Any Time, Any Place.”
Just to the east, Eglin Air Force Base encompasses more than 463,000 acres, making it one of the largest military installations in the world. Established in 1935 as the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base, Eglin was later named in honor of Lt. Col. Frederick I. Eglin, who was killed in an aircraft accident in 1937.
Eglin serves as a major center for weapons development, testing and evaluation. The base is home to organizations responsible for the development, acquisition, testing, deployment and sustainment of air-delivered weapon systems used throughout the U.S. Air Force.
The base is also home to the 33rd Fighter Wing, known as the “Nomads.” The wing plays a critical role in training pilots and maintainers for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program. As one of the first truly joint military training organizations, it supports personnel from the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and numerous allied nations.
The region also hosts the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), located on Army-operated land north of Eglin Air Force Base. The facility officially opened in 2011 and supports thousands of active-duty soldiers and family members. The 7th Special Forces Group maintains a global presence and is recognized as one of the Army’s premier special operations units.
To the west, Naval Air Station Pensacola stands as the birthplace of naval aviation. The site traces its history to the 16th century, when Spanish explorer Don Tristán de Luna established a settlement near present-day Fort Barrancas. Construction of the Pensacola Navy Yard began in 1826, eventually becoming one of the nation’s most important naval facilities.
Today, the Pensacola Naval Complex employs thousands of military personnel and civilians across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and remains a cornerstone of military operations and aviation training.
Nearby, Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton is widely recognized as one of the busiest naval aviation training facilities in the world. Since opening as a naval air auxiliary station in 1943, it has trained generations of naval aviators and continues to serve as a primary training center for Navy and Marine Corps pilots.
Each year, more than 1,200 student aviators complete their initial flight training at Whiting Field. The installation specializes in primary and intermediate fixed-wing flight instruction as well as advanced helicopter training and is known throughout the military for its exceptional safety record.
Together, these installations form a vital military presence along Florida’s Emerald Coast, contributing to national defense, supporting local economies and continuing a proud tradition of service that spans generations.
